New panoramic long-distance hiking trail for the summer season

Today sees the trail's international marketing launch on the individually bookable platform at hohetauerntrail.at, offering the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail from mid-May 2021 - a long-distance hiking experience that's in a class of its own. Over the course of ten one-day stages, hikers cover a distance of 150 kilometres from the starting point at the foot of the Krimml Waterfalls to Schmittenhöhe mountain high above Zell am See. Overnight accommodation alternates between the valley and the mountains. The trail takes hikers through the Hohe Tauern National Park region, affording breathtaking views of Austria's highest mountains. The mountain railways and handy shuttle services at the stage destinations as well as optional luggage transfer offer maximum comfort. En route you will find stunning natural attractions, great exhibitions, well-kept national parks and attractive excursion destinations.

150 kilometres, 7000 altitude metres - 10 spectacular stages
The largest waterfalls in Europe, ancient glaciers and legendary trade routes. Golden eagles, chamois and stunning emerald deposits. Austria's mightiest mountains, picturesque towns and villages and an internationally recognised wilderness reserve: At the Hohe Tauern National Park, nature rolls out one superlative after another. The largest nature reserve in Central Europe is a stunning part of the world that is more diverse and pristine that almost anywhere else. Discovering this region on foot, under your own steam and with a small ecological footprint is a fabulous nature and hiking experience. That's what the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail is all about. The well-signposted trail takes you along the northern side of the Salzach valley from the westernmost point of the province of Salzburg to Zell am See: The 150-kilometre route is perfect for ten stages. Each day the long-distance hikers walk for four to seven hours - without rope and between 1,500 and 2,400 metres above sea level, affording panoramic views. Alternative routes are available if the main routes cannot be accessed during low season due to bad weather, such as snow at high altitudes.

Stage 1 - Europe's largest waterfalls and the birthplace of a freedom fighter
The Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail starts in Krimml with a gentle hike and one of the greatest natural spectacles in the Salzburger Land. The Krimml waterfalls, with a drop of 380 metres, are the largest of their kind in Europe. The trail takes you along the Alter Trauernweg trail and the well-known waterfall trail in the direction of the Gerlos Pass. The interactive exhibition "Wasserwelten" (water worlds) at the foot of the waterfalls is also worth a visit. The listed Hinterlehengut manor estate is also on this route: Parts of the house in Oberkrimml where the freedom fighter Anton Wallner was born date from the 16th century. The stage finishes at the family-run Alpengasthof Filzstein restaurant in Hochkrimml, at 1,641 metres above sea level.

Stage 2 - On the trail of the element water in the Wildgerlostal valley
With over 22 kilometres, the second one-day stage is the longest: This stage features two real highlights: the Leitenkammerklamm gorge and the Durlassboden reservoir. The Leitenkammerklamm gorge was formed by the Wildgerlosbach, a roaring glacial stream: The spot is well developed with lookouts and information boards and is the habitat of rare birds such as the water ouzel and the grey wagtail. The impressive Leitenkammersteig climb is one of the most challenging parts of the trail, but it can be bypassed via an alternative route. There are several places to stop for refreshments along the way, such as the rustic Trisslalm inn in the Wildgerlostal valley. Another highlight of the day is the picturesque, turquoise Durlassboden reservoir, which was completed in 1966. The border between Salzburg and Tyrol runs right through the middle of the lake, and this is also where you can find Austria's highest surf school. From here you continue to the day's destination in Königsleiten in the municipality of Wald im Pinzgau to the source of the river Salzach.

Stage 3 - Crossing the Alps via the impressive Kröndlhorn mountain
On the third day you cover more than 20 kilometres and the trail takes you up to 2,444 metres above sea level. The highest point of the hike is the rocky double peak of the Kröndlhorn mountain, which stands out against the otherwise gentle green-pastured mountains of the Kitzbühel Alps. There is a small memorial chapel rather than a summit cross at the highest point, and hikers enjoy stunning views of more than 70 three-thousand-metre peaks. The stage finishes at the Alpengasthof Rechtegg inn at 1,278 metres altitude above the National Park village of Neukirchen am Großvenediger.

Stage 4 - Enjoy a magnificent view of the Großvenediger mountain from the summit of the Frühmesser
With 1,176 metres of ascent, this stage is one of the most challenging: It takes you from the Alpengasthof Rechtegg inn over the summit of the Frühmesser (2,233 m), which affords an incredible distant view of the Großvenediger with its expansive glacier fields. This stage takes hikers to the Wildkogel Arena high above the national park villages of Neukirchen and Bramberg. This stage finishes at the Wildkogelbahn mountain station. You either spend the night high up in the mountains or you take the mountain railways down into the valley. Alternatively, you can get off at the half-way station of the mountain railway and continue into the valley down the slide path, which features ten stainless steel slides.

Stage 5 - Gorgeous views of the glacier world of the Hohe Tauern range
This stage starts at the mountain station of the Wildkogelbahn at over 2,100 meters above sea level: From start to finish, hikers will enjoy stunning views of the three-thousand-metre peaks of the Hohe Tauern range. This stage only has about 500 metres of ascent and about the same in the descent. The 16-kilometre path takes you along the rugged southern flanks of the Großer Rettenstein mountain: Its 2,366-metre high peak is the most striking in the Kitzbühel Alps. Via the Stangenjoch trail you continue to the stage destination, the Panoramaalm at 1,975 metres above sea level on the Resterhöhe mountain, which affords a magnificent view down into the valley to Hollersbach.

Stage 6 - From Pass Thurn to the Alp's most state-of-the-art national park centre in Mittersill
After spending the night on the mountain, you now hike down to Mittersill. The trail takes you past the mountain station of the Resterkogel panoramic cable car, where a modern extension houses an exciting national park exhibition that is open to the public and free of charge: From here, you can see most of the summits as well as the pristine high mountain landscape of the national park. On the way from Pass Thurn into the valley, hikers pass the Wasenmoos natural monument: This idyllic upland moor is habitat to rare plants and animals. Here you can find sundew, butterwort and bladderwort, the three carnivorous plants native to Austria. Once you are in Mittersill, you must visit the spectacular national park worlds: The award-winning interactive exhibition in the national park centre is a 1,800-square metre alpine adventure world that extends over three levels. Together with the 360° panorama cinema, it offers unique insights into the habitats of the Hohe Tauern National Park, offering an exciting blend of knowledge transfer and experience.

Stage 7 - On remote paths to one of the highest green-pastured mountains in Europe
You have now covered a good two thirds of the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail. You spend one day in Mittersill and then head back up the mountains on remote paths. You cover just under 1,300 metres in altitude to the stage destination Bürglhütte (1,699 m) high above the national park village of Stuhlfelden: The lodge is idyllically situated at the foot of the Gaisstein (2,366 m), one of the highest green-pastured mountains in Europe.

Stage 8 - Exceptional high-altitude hike along the Pinzgauer Spaziergang walk
The eighth stage takes you eastwards from the Bürglhütte lodge along the famous Pinzgauer Spaziergang walk: You cover around ten kilometres - always just below 2,000 metres above sea level. The Pinzgauer Spaziergang walk owes its name to its route along a high-altitude terrace formation with unique views of the Hohe Tauern and the Großglockner, Austria's highest mountain. From the stage destination, the Uttendorfer Hochsonnbergalm, you take the shuttle into the valley, where you stay the night.

Stage 9 - New perspectives and a stunning panoramic view of Zell am See
On the penultimate day, the route also takes you along the Pinzgauer Spaziergang trail towards Schmittenhöhe, Zell's local mountain. You walk across alpine meadows to the Klammscharte (1,993) and then to the Rohrertörl (1,918 m). This is where the view opens up to the rocky Leoganger and Loferer Steinberge mountains. Until you get to the Pinzgauer Hütte lodge (1,700 m), which affords one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the national park towns of Niedernsill and Piesendorf , just under 15 kilometres are covered without appreciable ascent and descent along stunning high-altitude scenery.

Stage 10 - In the footsteps of Empress Sisi from the Schmittenhöhe to the shores of Lake Zell
Even Empress Sisi hiked up to the Schmittenhöhe mountain to enjoy the sunrise from there. You should do the same! On the last day, the route takes you from the Pinzgauer Hütte lodge to the Schmittenhöhe summit, where you find the Elisabeth Chapel, named after the empress. Via the Höhenpromenade and the themed trail "Mystischer Sagenwald", the route takes you down into the valley and up to the Elisabeth Park on the shore of the lakes, your destination in Zell am See.

Individual bookings at hohetauerntrail.at, for complete freedom of choice - online from today
The Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail is aimed at ambitious hikers: Most of the stages are of medium difficulty. Bookings are made via the individual platform hohetauerntrail.at. The agency Trail Angels for sustainable tourism as the marketing partner takes care of all concerns of long-distance hikers before and during their stay. Accommodation categories, length of stay, shuttle services and luggage transfer can all be booked individually. The Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail is well signposted, and guests are provided with all the maps they need and a tour guide with detailed descriptions. The GPS data is available for free download.

Packages

• Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail Summer 2021 Hiking in the mountain spring: 3 overnight stays in quality-approved partner establishments (accommodation of your choice: basic/ classic, board: breakfast) - 2 connected selected stages on the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail - Luggage service - Shuttle and return transfer as part of the practical mobility service - Trail hotline (Angel's Service) - Extended travel documents (Angel's Service)
  Prices p. p.: from 264 euros per person in a double room, can be booked daily from 15 May - 30 June 2021
• Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail Summer 2021 Green Spirit - Climate-friendly hiking with rail travel: 7 overnight stays in quality-approved partner establishments (accommodation of your choice: basic/ classic, board: breakfast and dinner) - 6 connected selected stages on the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail - Luggage service - Shuttle transfer as part of the practical mobility service - Transfer from and to the nearest train station - Trail Hotline (Angel´s Service) - Extended travel documents (Angel´s Service) Prices p. p.: from 778 euros per person in a double room, can be booked daily from 21 June - 26 September 2021

For inquiries, please contact:

Ferienregion Nationalpark Hohe Tauern GmbH
Gerlosstraße 18, 5730 Mittersill
Austria
Mail: ferienregion@nationalpark.at